Lobbyists are zeroing in on members of the House of Commons finance committee, a group of MPs who are seen to have influence in Ottawa as they begin closed-door talks on a pre-budget report.In spite of the constant talk of Parliament’s declining influence as power becomes concentrated in the Prime Minister’s Office, lobbyists still want the ear of individual MPs.
Nearly 5,000 contacts with MPs have been reported since the government approved a new rule just over a year ago requiring lobbyists to disclose their meetings with MPs. A Globe and Mail analysis of data from the Commissioner of Lobbying found many of the most-lobbied MPs have a connection with the House of Commons finance committee.
“I think that shows the importance of the finance committee,” NDP finance critic Peter Julian said.
The 2012 federal budget is months away, but the finance committee started working on a pre-budget report on Thursday that must be tabled no later than Dec. 16. The committee members spent months in Ottawa and across the country listening to groups with an interest in the outcome.
With a Conservative majority in power, the finance committee’s pre-budget report may provide a clear sense of where the government is heading as it faces continued pressure to act in the face of a worsening global economy.
Through six years of minority governments, the opposition controlled the finance committee, issuing reports that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty largely discounted. Last year’s report was dramatically shelved after a Conservative MP’s staffer leaked a draft to lobbyists that showed the bargaining positions of each party. An investigation into the leak highlighted the intense interest that lobbyists take in the finance committee’s work.
The focus of the 2012 budget was supposed to be a clear and detailed austerity plan to tackle the deficit after three years of heavy stimulus spending, but the economy hasn’t recovered as expected. Should troubles in Europe spread to North America, the Conservatives could be forced to change course. The opposition insists the case for a new jobs plan is clear.
Maurizio Bevilacqua, who chaired the finance committee from 1997 to 2002 under a Liberal majority and is now mayor of Vaughan, north of Toronto, was widely viewed as an influential MP during that period. In an interview, he said his advice to Conservative committee chair James Rajotte is to show some independence and aim for a budget report that can be accepted by all parties.
“The most important thing is that the committee always act independently of the Department of Finance and the finance minister,” Mr. Bevilacqua said.
A large portion of the lobbying data covers the period before the Harper Conservatives won a majority government.
The numbers also show two Liberal critics who are not connected to the finance committee among the 10 most-lobbied MPs. Wayne Easter and Marc Garneau were likely targeted because of their high-profile roles on the agriculture and industry files respectively in the last Parliament, where they were prominent during Question Period and in committees.
As for the lobbying statistics, the MP who has had more meetings with lobbyists than any other – Liberal John McCallum – isn’t convinced that they show backbench opposition MPs are calling the shots on Parliament Hill.
“We don’t really have power,” he said. “Maybe [lobbyists] don’t understand how the system works.”
THE 10 MOST-LOBBIED MPS
1. John McCallum (L)
132 contacts
Why: The former finance committee member focuses on government spending issues and was lobbied heavily when
he was transport critic in the last Parliament.
2. Colin Carrie (C)
123 contacts
The Oshawa MP became popular with lobbyists this year when he was named parliamentary secretary to the health minister.
3. James Rajotte (C)
117 contacts
The veteran MP chairs
the Commons finance
committee.
4. Wayne Easter (L)
113 contacts
The former agriculture
critic meets with many farming groups.
5. Dean Del Mastro (C)
109 contacts
Now parliamentary secretary to the PM, he was a parliamentary secretary to the Heritage Minister during the copyright debate.
6. Scott Brison (L)
93 contacts
The Liberal finance critic is a long-time member of the finance committee.
7. Mike Wallace (C)
89 contacts
The Burlington MP was on the finance committee and is now vice-chair of government operations committee.
8. David Anderson (C)
84 contacts
The MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands is parliamentary secretary to the natural resources minister.
9. Marc Garneau (L)
75 contacts
The former astronaut was industry critic for the Liberals.
10. Dave Van Kesteren (C)
73 contacts
The MP for Chatham-Kent-Essex is a member of the finance committee.
Origin
Source: Globe&Mail
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